Website Content and Element Analysis, Essay Example

Websites such as lowwagework.org are simple and meant to provide useful information and resources for those looking into the specific subject matter. Lowwagework.org provides an overview of what it means to be a low wage worker in the United States. The website is easy to use and functional in the sense that it provides the necessary information in a simple and navigable format. The links listed on the webpage are minimal, and include a history of low wage work, facts and myths, lowering cell phone bills, finding a better job and stopping storage rental fees. The home page links the user back to the history page. Through its design and function, lowwagework.org provides the user with an easy to follow, visually simple, informative resource with no added frills.

Lowwagework.org features a home page that describes and details the history of low wage work in the United States and how it connects to current issues facing low wage workers, The content is brief, interesting, simple and refers directly to the subject matter. To the left of the content is a site map to navigate through the rest of the website. The map consists of six links to further read about issues and resources related to low wage work, as well as an external link page  providing additional resources for the target audience. There are several advertisements on the home page for items and services that somewhat relate to the content, however they are not as useful as the actual website content provided. The site map links on the left of the page will take you to new content pages, however the backgrounds and graphics remain the same. The links provided give a breadth of easy to read material that is also helpful for the intended audience. The facts and myths link lists details about low wage work, whereas the lower you cell phone bill link gives more specific resourceful information. The ‘I need a better job” and “stop storage rentals” links also include resourceful information and are easy to navigate.

The effectiveness of the design of the website lies in its simplicity. It uses simple colors, texts, graphics and nothing is too flashy or complicated. Although, there are pop-up advertisements attached to the home page that are distracting and vaguely relate to the subject matter. The colors are green, white and black and relate to the theme, as well as the background that features repeated images of a dollar bill. The only clutter on the page is from the advertising. The download speed is quick and reliable, as there are no complicated or bulky graphics or content. Its design is meant to provide ease of use, therefore making it simple and logical to follow for its intended audience.

Each provided link, including home page, is comprehensible and easy to follow. The content and data presented is properly and logically organized and free of major grammar and structural mistakes. Example of the content includes a heading that reads, “The Story of Low-wage Work,” which is featured on the home page and provides organization and grouping of content, so it is easily followed and understood. Each heading is simple and direct.

The navigation of the website is extraordinarily easy to follow. It is simply organized and information and resources are easy to find. The site map is presented in a logical and orderly table of contents. Each map link leads the user to the correct page, and each secondary page provides the site map, as well, so it is unnecessary to click on back buttons on the browser. At the bottom of the home page there is also a series of links that lead to the major components of the website content, such as the myths and facts and the external links. However, included throughout the content of each page are embedded hyperlinks in the text. These hyperlinks lead to advertisements and webpages have little to no relation to the material presented. For example, some of the content on the home page says, “workers in low-wage jobs are the least likely to be provided health care coverage for themselves and their families; they cannot afford the premiums on their own.” The content is perfectly simple and understandable, and also presents a logical argument based on fact, however, the word “premiums” is embedded with a hyperlink that leads to a website for a product called privacy snapper. This website has absolutely nothing in common with the content, and other words throughout the content lead to similar, random webpages advertising products. This would actually be a helpful too and resource for the target audience, however it currently provides completely useless, confusing and possible harmful links. Other than this aspect of the content, lowwagework.org does provide useful information presented in a logical and navigable manner.

Lowwagework.org is a simple website meant to provide basic information and resources on living and retiring from a low wage job. The content and organization of the website if easy to follow, and the language is easy to read free of any major grammatical mistakes. The graphics, colors, site map and links all relate to the content and its intended audience, therefore providing an error free user and audience experience. However, if the lowwagework.org were to remove unneeded and unrelated advertising, the content would be even more accessible for its users.

Works Cited

“History Of Low Wage Work.” Low Wage Work. Web. 28 Sept. 2015.  <http://www.lowwagework.org/>.